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10th Apr 2018

Why will Princess Charlotte make history when her sibling is born this month?

Olivia Hayes

It’s an exciting time for the royal family.

It’s only a few weeks (or days!) until Kate Middleton will give birth to her third child, and while the whole family is gearing up for the new arrival, the day the baby comes will make history for Princess Charlotte.

According to Independent UK, Princess Charlotte will become the first female royal to retain her claim to the throne regardless of whether the newborn is male or female.

Prior to 2013, there was a rule in place that said if the next sibling was male, they would automatically step over their older sister to claim the throne.

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However, five years ago the  Succession to the Crown Act was introduced which means “in determining the succession to the Crown, the gender of a person born after 28 October 2011 does not give that person, or that person’s descendants, precedence over any other person (whenever born).”

The previous rules, where it was gender that determined who claimed the throne, dated all the way back to 1701, so you know… we think it was time to change it.

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When Princess Charlotte was born on May 2 2015, it was announced that she would automatically be granted the title of HRH, whereas she would have only been a Lady with previous rules.